Bridle-bit.



PATENTBD SEPT. 11, 1906.

W. GARDNER. BRIDLE BIT. APPLICATION FILED we. 25, 1905.

WITNESSES.

WMHM

INVENTOR ilaller fiardnar.

A TTOR/VEY THE NDRRI: F-Erznlcoi, WASHINGTON, one

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRlDLE-BIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Tatented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed August 25, 1905. Serial No- 275,737.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER GARDNER, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Enderby, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bridle-Bits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved bridlebit which is designed to afford efficient control of a restive horse and which at the same time will be comfortable in the mouth and not liable to lacerate or injure it.

My object has been to obtain complete mastery of a horses head without subjecting the beast to pain that would only tend to irritate and madden it.

The bit itself is a simple bar provided with rings for the attachment of the head-harness and bridle-rein; but the ends of the bit just outside the mouth are bent round and brought together under the chin to afford means for the attachment of the control-rein. This rein is designed to be attached to the belly-band or to a martingale and passing round a roller on the connected ends of the bit to the driver multiplies his effort to the mouth of the horse and subjects the head to the desired control. The control thus afforded is more eflectual and complete when the bit is used in conjunction with an overdraw-check or bearing rein.

The particular construction and application of the bit is fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the drawings which accompany it, in which Figure 1 is a plan; Fig, 2, a side elevation. Fig. 3 shows the application of the bit to control a horses head. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the mouth-bar 2; Figs. 5 and 6, details showing an alternative means of connecting the cheek-strap ring.

The bit consists, essentially, of an integral mouth-bar 2, which bar is bent round outside the mouth and the two ends are curved together, as shown in Fig. 1, to the width of the control-rein, when they are bent, as at 3, so as to be parallel to one another and are secured by bars or rivets 4, on which run loose rollers 5 and 6. Approximate to the corner bend of the bit are lateral extensions or knobs 7, to which are connected rings 8 and 9 for the attachment of the cheek-strap c of the head-harness and the bridle-rein r. The location and manner of attachment of these rings is such as to enable the bit to hang at the desired angle in the mouth of the horse.

Figs. 5 and 6 show an alternative method of attaching the cheek-strap ring 8 so as to sustain the bit in the desired position of In this case instead of passing the ring through a hole in the neck of the knob 7 the neck is rectangular in cross-section or has flattened sides to which the engaging portion of the ring 8 is shaped to conform, so that. the bit is afforded support in the matter of hang from the cheek-strap 0.

At the bend of the bit Where it will contact with the sides of the horses mouth the bar is preferably made with a flattened inner side, as shown in the section in Fig. 4.

The bar 2 of the bit may, if found desirable, Where the mouth of the horse is tender be covered with leather or other similar material.

In the application of the bit it is retained in position in the mouth of the horse in the usual manner with the cheek-strap c of the head-harness attached to the ring 8, and the bridle-rein r is connected to the rings 9. The martingale m, secured to the girth or belly-band, is connected to the bar or roller 5, and the control-rein 10 is either secured to the martingale m as drawn or connected direct to the belly-band and is passed round the roller 5 and led to the position of the driver or rider, as the case may be.

In the operation of the bit under normal conditions, as previously remarked, itmay be used as an ordinary bridle-bit, in which case it is a comfortable and effective bit, as it cannot be drawn laterally out of the horses mouth; but when the horse is inclined to be come restive the pull on the control-rein is approximately doubled in transmission to the bit in the mouth of the horse, so that the head may be drawn strongly down and efiicient control and mastery obtained. This control is the more complete if the bit is used in conjunction with an overdraw-check and bit, as the horse can then move his head neither up nor down.

When ap lied to a horse with a known habit of kic ring, the control-rein instead of being secured as a martingale to the bellyband may be continued through a loop on the belly-band and connected to two breeching-straps secured to the rings of the breeching on each side, the breeching being lowered. slightly for this purpose. This will afford mastery over the animalshind quarters, as on any attempt to kick his head and hind quarters may be by the control-rein drawn strongly together and complete mastery be effected.

Having now particularly described my in vention and the manner of its application and use, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bit of the class described, a mouthbit, the ends of which are recurved and terminate in parallel portions under the chin of the horse, a pair of pins connecting the ends of said parallel portions together, a pair of rollers one on each pin between said parallel members, means adjacent the mouth-bar for connecting the bit to the head-harness of the horse, and means for connecting the bridlerein to the bit, said rollers being arranged to permit passage of the control-rein tnerearound, substantially as shown and described.

2. A bit of the class described, comprising a mouth-bar the ends of which are bent together and turned parallel to one another in a direction normal to the mouth-bar, being secured together by parallel bars on which rollers are mounted, means for attaching the bit to the head-harness in such position in relation to the center of gravity that the bit will tend to hang in the desired position in the mouth of the horse, means for connecting the bridle to the bit, and a control-rein secured to the girth or breeching and passing through the chin-loop of the bit to the position of the rider.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER GARDNER.

Witnesses:

ALBERT E. TAYLOR, RoBT. BRADLY. 

